Callum Cooper, pictured, hanged himself after an argument with his carer and he feared he was following in his parents’ criminal footsteps
A teenager hanged himself after an argument about drugs with his carer because he didn’t want to become like his parents, an inquest has heard.
Callum Cooper, 16, asked his guardian Ray Adams if he was destined to end up like his drug addicted mother and father on the day he disappeared in Bournemouth, Dorset.
Callum had been experimenting with magic mushrooms and LSD and asked Mr Adams about drugs because he didn’t want to end up in prison like his father.
Mr Adams, who had been Callum’s carer for six years, left him walking their dog while he went into an appointment on December 15, 2016.
When the carer had returned to the car, Callum had left the puppy on the seat and the keys in the centre console.
However, the teenager was nowhere to be seen.
Mr Adams spent several hours looking for him before calling the police to report him missing.
His body was found hanging in a wooded parkland by a dog walker the next morning and it was thought he had been dead for some time.
Callum had moved in with Mr Adams when he was 10 after a ‘somewhat troubled childhood’.
Bournemouth Coroner’s Court heard both his parents had issues with drugs and had served time in prison.
Mr Adams said the youngster became paranoid in the months before his death.
Several weeks before he died they had a discussion because Mr Adams found out Callum had tried magic mushrooms, which he felt explained the paranoia.
Callum said he was going to turn his life around and wasn’t going to touch drugs anymore.
He found out after his death Callum had also taken LSD.
Mr Adams became suspicious on December 15 when Callum started selling his favourite clothing. He looked on his iPad and found screenshots of drugs to buy ‘like an online shop’, including ketamine and LSD.
He confronted Callum about it when he got home and the teenager said he wasn’t taking them but was planning to sell them.
Mr Adams said: ‘We had a pretty long chat, I told him it wasn’t a good idea to sell drugs. He asked ‘why do I always steer towards drugs? Do you think I’m destined to end up like my mum and dad?’
‘I told him you don’t have to, it’s your choice. He said he hadn’t ordered any yet and would not continue.’
Mr Adams took Callum’s phone and iPad from him as punishment and they left their home in Ringwood, Hants, to go to Mr Adams’ appointment. He last saw Callum walking the puppy when he looked out the window.
Callum’s birth mother Helen Keeping told the inquest that she last saw him four weeks before he died.
She said: ‘I didn’t see him very often, I have been in and out of jail and had a lot of drug issues. But when I did see him I tried to do the best I could.
‘He seemed happy. We parted on good terms. After that I was in prison for four weeks so I didn’t see him again.
‘I think he saw too much mental illness in his father’s family and maybe he had a lot of demons in his mind.’
Police carried out investigations on Callum’s mobile phone and iPad, as well as interviewing his friends.
His friends said he had been taking recreational drugs and he had a conversation with one about wanting to sell drugs to make money.
Detective Chioef Inspector Andy Dilworth said police had found no evidence of third party involvement or criminality in Callum’s death.
He said: ‘There are no clear reasons or understanding as to what caused Callum to take his life.
‘He had an argument with his guardian and may have been significantly upset by this.
‘He made reference to ending up like his father, who was in prison, which was a real fear for him.
‘He had an interest in the afterlife and didn’t have a fear of dying.’
Toxicology results showed Callum had no drugs or alcohol in his system when he died.
Assistant Dorset coroner Richard Middleton described him as an ‘average teenager’.
He said he was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Callum intended to cause his death and gave a verdict of suicide.
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